KAP Survey on Early Childhood Education and Development

discriminatory attitudes (stereotypes and prejudice) and behaviours towards children with developmental disabilities and Roma children.

2. SURVEY RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES While early childhood development has for a long time been recognised as important for the future functioning and health of the child, it is in recent years that scientists have begun to increasingly emphasise its significance. Environment that provides all the necessary and stimulating conditions for socialisation, education, health care, adequate nutrition and care is considered essential for a healthy and successful mental, physical, social and emotional development of the child in the future.

Based on the current statistics, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has the lowest preschool enrolment rate in Europe and Central Asia, with only 13 per cent of children aged 4–5 years attending preschool. In this context, Roma children and children with developmental disabilities are particularly vulnerable.

Due to the limited availability of educational services resulting from prejudice as well as the limited awareness among parents about the importance of early learning and education, only 1.5 per cent of Roma children in the country attend preschool education. Also, children with developmental disabilities are isolated and marginalised in the current system when it comes to early learning and education opportunities, with only 0.4 per cent of these children attending school.

Overall, the fact that a huge percentage of children aged 4–5 years in the country – about 85 per cent – do not have access to preschool education poses a major problem requiring urgent action.

In an effort to expand the existing cooperation in the field of Early Childhood Education and Development, in January 2013 UNICEF and its partners launched a new project entitled “Increasing Early Learning Opportunities for Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. With the financial support of Dubai Cares (DC), the primary objective of the project is to increase access to organised early learning programmes and improve physical, socio-emotional and cognitive development of children aged 4–6 years in selected municipalities in the country, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups, such as Roma children and children with developmental disabilities. The project is envisaged to last two years.

Three separate studies are to be conducted within the project: 1) baseline study, the purpose of which is to take stock of the current situation in communities with respect to preschool education; 2) KAP survey, i.e. knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of parents of preschool-aged children about preschool education; 3) repeated KAP survey with a view to determining indicators of change. The findings of this KAP survey will be used for the development of a Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign and programme interventions.